title: Lead exposure suppressed ALAD transcription by increasing methylation level of the promoter CpG islands.
abstract: DNA methylation provides a plausible link between the environment and alterations in gene expression that may lead to disease phenotypes. Lead exposure can change DNA methylation status. Here, we hypothesized that the methylation of the ALAD gene promoter may play an important role in lead toxicity. To determine whether the methylation level of the ALAD promoter is associated with the risk of lead poisoning, we conducted a case-control study of 103 workers from a battery plant and 103 healthy volunteers with matching age and gender distribution. We employed real-time PCR and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in cell models to determine the relationship between ALAD methylation level and transcription level. We found lead exposure to increase the ALAD gene methylation level and down-regulate ALAD transcription. The difference in methylation frequencies between exposures and controls was statistically significant (p=0.002), and individuals with methylated ALAD gene showed an increased risk of lead poisoning (adjusted OR=3.57, 95% CI, 1.55-8.18). This study suggests that the lead-exposure-induced increases in ALAD methylation may be involved in the mechanism of lead toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Chunping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Sumeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shourong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jingping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qizhan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yujie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000187:drug effects*; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D004794:Enzyme Repression; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D016015:Logistic Models; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014162:Transfection; D000097584:DNA Methyltransferase 3B
chemical_list: D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097584:DNA Methyltransferase 3B; C008261:lead acetate